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Canadian health officials are investigating another salmonella outbreak associated with geckos.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said it had identified 25 cases. One of them is in British Columbia.
There has been one death associated with the outbreak, while three people have been hospitalized.
PHAC said the cases involve people aged between one and 103.
Earlier this year, PHAC closed its investigation into separate salmonella outbreaks involving geckos, snakes and rodents.
Those outbreaks led to one death and more than 100 cases.
In a public bulletin released on Sept. 27, PHAC stated: “Reptiles like geckos can carry salmonella. You can get sick with salmonella by touching reptiles or their environments and then touching your face, eyes or mouth before washing your hands.
“You can also get sick by touching contaminated surfaces or objects in a home or within the exhibit where geckos are kept. This can occur at birthday parties, schools, daycares, museums, science centres, zoos or at a travelling reptile show.”
PHAC said people handling geckos should always wash their hands, and “never kiss a pet reptile.”
Read PHAC’s full bulletin here.